OPERATION TO RECOVER THREE FARC HOSTAGES BEGINS

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 002410 SIPDIS SIPDIS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DEPT PASS AID/OTI RPORTER E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER CO VE SUBJECT: OPERATION TO RECOVER THREE FARC HOSTAGES BEGINS REF: A. BOGOTA 8657 ¶B. CARACAS 2398 Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Daniel Lawton, Reason 1.4 (D) ¶1. (SBU) President Chavez personally kicked off what he called "phase one" of "Operation Emmanuel" on December 28 to facilitate the release of three FARC hostages. Chavez led the team of international commissioners from Caracas to the Santo Domingo airfield in the western state of Tachira on his presidential jet at aproximately 1300 on December 28. A buoyant Chavz introduced the international commissioners (Noe: Argentine Ex-President Nestor Kirchner remaineda Chavez' side almost the entire time. End Note) to the media and jokingly presented film maker Oiver Stone as "Bush's envoy." ¶2. (SBU) After aking a show of inspecting the helicopters, bothemblazoned with the badge of the International Comittee of the Red Cross per the Colombian government's conditions, the helicopters departed for Vilavicencio, Colombia. Chavez explained that due to "inconveniences" in weather and communications, the recovery team did not yet have the exact coordinates for the hostage recovery. Chavez added that he hoped for "good weather" on December 29 and to resolve a few "small, remaining details." The Venezuelan president also alluded to certain "risks," noting that he hoped the USG would not interfere with the hostage transfer. Chavez concluded by offering to put his differences with Colombia "in the past" and reiterated his desire to meet with FARC leader Marulanda. ¶3. (C) Early on December 28, French ambassador La Tour-du-pin told DCM that he received instructions from the Venezuelan chief of protocol to present himself at Caracas' Maiqueta airport by 1200 dressed "for a walk in the jungle". By 1400 Ambassador La Tour-du-Pin, Senator Peidad Cordoba, ex-President Nestor Kirchner and other international commissioners were seen disembarking a presidential jet at Santo Domingo, in Tachira state, bordering Colombia. ¶4. (C) Following the departure of the helicopters, the commissioners returned to Caracas. According to French DCM Dominique Mas, who called the DCM, the commissioners, including his ambassador, still don't know what will happen next. Ambassador La Tour-du-Pin had dressed and packed to spend the night in Santo Domingo, Villavicencio or even the jungle. Mas also related to the DCM his ambassador's conversation with Stone, who said he was there because he is researching a historical documentary on Latin America, and his visit was unrelated to the hostage release. ¶5. (C) Comment: At the end of a year in which his government suffered many international setbacks, President Chavez is making every effort to maximize the political value of his role in the release of the three FARC hostages. The Venezuelan president invited a veritable media circus to cover the &first phase8 of the release of the three FARC hostages. Earlier the same day, Chavez, dressed in his paratrooper uniform and red beret, addressed a large, televised open air gathering of the armed forces and extolled his administration's role in FARC mediation efforts and humanitarian operations in Latin America. DUDDY